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SB 543 · 2026 · Senate · Health and Human Services Committee

Provisional Medicaid eligibility for nursing care

AI-generated

relative to long-term care eligibility and making an appropriation therefor.

Establishes provisional Medicaid eligibility for nursing facility services during the long-term care application process and appropriates funds to the department of health and human services.AI-generated

Status

Killed in the House — Inexpedient to Legislate · April 23, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓Senate
  3. ✕House
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill establishes provisional eligibility for Medicaid nursing facility services as part of the long-term care application process and makes an appropriation to the department of health and human services for this purpose.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

In the bill's words

Quoted verbatim from the bill as amended by the Senate. Passages chosen from the operative text.Computed by this site

“Such provisional eligibility shall be made without regard to whether the application is deemed complete.”
Section 1
“The sum of $1 is hereby appropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 2027, to the department of health and human services for the purposes of funding provisional eligibility expenses RSA 167:8.”
Section 2
“Counties shall not be liable for provisional eligibility appropriations and/or payments as identified in RSA 167:8, and for Medicaid recipients in state institutions[, the Crotched Mountain Rehabilitation Center,] and intermediate care facilities (ICF) approved by the department of health and human services and servicing developmentally impaired persons.”
Section 3
“There is hereby established in the department of health and human services 2 positions for the purpose of managing the provisional eligibility program in accordance with RSA 167:8.”
Section 4

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Sen. Daryl AbbasRPrimePresident Pro Tempore
  • Sen. Victoria SullivanRVice Chair· Education
  • Sen. Suzanne PrentissDAssistant Democratic Leader
  • Sen. David RochefortRChair· Health and Human Services
  • Sen. Bill GannonRChair· Judiciary
  • Rep. Dennis MannionRVice Chair· Judiciary

Also: Sen. Tim McGoughR, Sen. Pat LongD

Public testimony

20 signed in online · 3 wrote testimony

95% support5% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“I have Autistic Twins who someday will require to be cared for. They are very much susceptible to being taken advantage of and abused. One of my fears when I am gone from this earth”
— Michele Bartlett, NEWFIELDS · My Childrensupports
“this bill expands privacy rights of people after experiencing a miscarriage. Why is this even necessary? Because there is an attempt to pry into medical records of women who have had a miscarriage to make sure it wasn’t a pregnancy termination!…”
— Joyce Weston, plymouthsupports
“This is sneaky and dishonest: "Appropriation; Provisional Eligibility.…”
— Daniel Richardson, Nashuaopposes

Verbatim excerpts of submitted testimony, quoted from the testimony tool.

Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026

Votes

yeanay
Starting text: Bill as introduced
  • Jan 29, 2026SenateCommittee report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0109s5–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Jan 29, 2026SenateVoice voteCommittee amendment 2026-0109sadopted
  • Jan 29, 2026SenateVoice voteOught to Pass with Amendment #2026-0109sadopted
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the Senate
  • Apr 15, 2026HouseCommittee report· regular calendar: Inexpedient to Legislate10–8
    Overall
    56% yea
  • Apr 23, 2026HouseRoll callInexpedient to LegislateAdopted182–154How they voted
    Overall
    54% yea
    Party-line vote
    Republicans
    182–498% yea
    Democrats
    0–1500% yea

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 8, 2026Public hearingSenate Health and Human Services19:07–24:155m 8slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • Jan 29, 2026Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0109s; Ought to Pass with Amendment #2026-0109s — adopted, voice vote; Committee Amendment # 2026-0109s — adopted, voice vote
  • Mar 25, 2026Public hearingHouse Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs2:09:20–2:14:205mlocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Apr 15, 2026Public hearingHouse Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs16:31–20:504m 19slocated in the stream transcriptMajority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate — roll call; Minority Committee Report: Ought to Pass; Executive Session
  • Apr 23, 2026Floor debateHouse floor3:43:57–3:53:469m 49slocated in the stream transcriptInexpedient to Legislate — adopted, roll call 182-154

Timestamps locate where this bill is taken up in the chamber's YouTube stream.

Legislative history

  1. Jan 7, 2026SenIntroduced 01/07/2026 and Referred to Health and Human Services; SJ 1
  2. Jan 8, 2026SenHearing: 01/08/2026, Room 100, SH, 09:00 am; SC 46
  3. Jan 29, 2026SenCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0109s, 01/29/2026; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 3
  4. Jan 29, 2026SenCommittee Amendment # 2026-0109s, AA, VV; 01/29/2026; SJ 2
  5. Jan 29, 2026SenOught to Pass with Amendment #2026-0109s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 01/29/2026; SJ 2
  6. Feb 19, 2026HouseIntroduced (in recess of) 02/19/2026 and referred to Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs HJ 5 P. 124
  7. Mar 25, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 03/25/2026 11:30 am GP 158
  8. Apr 15, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 04/15/2026 10:00 am GP 158
  9. Apr 15, 2026HouseMajority : Inexpedient to Legislate 04/15/2026 (Vote 10-8; RC)
  10. Apr 15, 2026HouseMinority : Ought to Pass
  11. Apr 23, 2026HouseInexpedient to Legislate: MA RC 182-154 04/23/2026 HJ 11 P. 56

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

Bill text & amendments link direct to gc.nh.gov; committee reports stream from the state record.